GOD’S SHOWCASE
Genesis 26

“There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you…”” (Genesis 26:1-2) In time of famine when all was down and lack was in place, frustration and absolute stagnation must have been evident. God told Isaac not to move away to a land that could be more hospitable. It is one thing to hear God speak but it is absolutely another thing to actually respond to what the Lord is saying. Are you wondering if you have been hearing God speak to you lately? If you are a Bible-reading believer, evidently you are hearing from God as often as you read from the Bible. God’s command for Isaac was enough to expect easy and unchallenging provision. However, when God commands, there is always the devil at hand. As Isaac continued to dwell in the land, the forces of opposition continued to show up in attempt to make Isaac a failure. It was God who commanded Isaac to stay and as long as he remained in the land, nothing formed against him prospered. Isaac’s attempted to protect his wife from the men of the land when he lied by stating, ““She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.”” (Genesis 26:7) Evidently, the truth came up when Abimelech, the king of the land, saw Isaac showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. By virtue of the king’s discovery, a command was put in place that no one should touch Isaac. In the land that God commanded for Isaac, the challenging situation of protecting Rebekah was not the only one Isaac had to face. Isaac was also unable to lay claim of every well of running water that was found by his servant because the men of the land repeatedly took over the wells. In the land where God commanded Isaac to dwell, denial, distraction and discouragement stood up against Isaac, but yet Isaac could not be moved. Isaac remained obedient to God’s command by dwelling in the land and God made a showcase of him in the midst of his enemies. Isaac’s enemy could not withhold and had to rightfully state, “…We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you…” (Genesis 26:28) Indeed, God is true to His Word that states, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7) Isaac pleased the Lord so his enemies had to be at peace with him.

Prayer for today: Let Your way be my way eternal King of glory, so that I may please You all the days of my life.